Awakening Joy for Kids: A Hands-On Guide for Grown-Ups to Nourish Themselves and Raise Mindful, Happy Children

by James Baraz, Michele Lilyanna

Awarded the 2016 Nautilus Gold Medal for Parenting and Family!

Spirit Rock founder, author, and teacher James Baraz’s Awakening Joy offers his large and devoted readership a program to gain contentment and happiness by cultivating the seeds of joy within. Here he joins with Michele Lilyanna, a classroom teacher for 25 years, to offer caregivers and children ways to find joy in each day together.

This unique offering nourishes both adults and kids. James shares the practices for the adults—parents, caregivers, and teachers. Michele offers her own experiences as a parent and as a teacher, showing how the themes work with kids, followed by the tried and true lessons that she's used herself in the classroom and at home.

Packed with practices and activities that James and Michele have gathered over their many years of working with thousands of adults and children in retreats, workshops, and the classroom, Awakening Joy for Kids is imbued with compassion and delight. Part of Parallax Press' growing curriculum for parents and educators designed to cultivate joy and mindfulness in children.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Education

300 pages, Paperback

Published August 9, 2016

Reviews

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful how-to-book on how to cultivate joy in our own lives so that we can then spread this joy into other people's lives. The overlying theme of the book is the need for us to strengthen our connections to ourselves and each other so that we can live happier and more successful lives. In other words, by putting our own “oxygen mask” on first, we can help our children, other children we come in contact with and everyone else in-between, to put their “oxygen masks” on too. thereby being more effective carers because we feel cared for above all.

Through carefully laid out chapters each with an adult lesson to bring your personal joy practice to a deeper level and a children's lesson that supports curriculum and learning outcomes, this book leads you through the process, step-by-step. The chapters offer insights, examples and a vast variety of exercises for both home and school activities to engage joy and for even more facility, there is a guide book at the back of the book to help seamlessly integrate these lessons into the both the home and the classroom.

I highly recommend this book. I cannot wait to kick off the new school year by motivating my students desire for joy in their lives. The more we look for and instill this joy, the more energetic, happy and creative  we will become. It is natural! I have found that one of the keys to being joyful, is to share my love of dance with my students. I integrate flamenco into all my yoga and mindfulness classes. Children are just taken by the rhythms, the coordination and the focus it takes to dance flamenco. You can find out more at www dot AlwaysBeDancing dot com. ¡Olé! ¡Namaste!

[Gretchen Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't imagine a time when this book won't be relevant. It's especially helpful right now for me. Fantastic!

[PJ Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a teacher and parent and I'm always looking for good ideas to build empathy and address anxiety among my students. Awakening Joy for Kids provides a number of lessons for children that both teachers and parents can use to address emotional learning. So many kids today come to school stressed and brain science tells us that that's not a good condition for learning. Kids who act out ruin the learning environment for everyone. Awakening Joy for Kids provides good clear lessons that can help to address these concerns. The lessons tend to be more appropriate for elementary school age children, and they incorporate literacy and numeracy practices so they can complement the other things that we are trying to teach. I highly recommend this book for any teacher. I wish I had this book when my own kids were little.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a mom of two teenaged girls and an avid reader. This book was recommended to me and now I recommend it to my parent and teaching friends. Teaching my kids to be mindful and aware is so important to their well being. I love the exercises and the way this book is laid out. Also how they can be used with young as well as older kids. Best is that all the materials are at the front of each new exercises as well as what they are teaching and then follow up books for both parents and kids as a resource. Genius and well thought out. I also like how the format goes back and forth with a section for adults and then a section to do with kids along with heartfelt, real examples of using these skills and concepts. I can't wait to try some more exercises with my family to awaken our joy!

[Theresa Whalen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a parent and someone who works in the schools, I think every parent and teacher should read this book. The practices are so simple and understandable. Children these days are faced with so much anxiety and stress and just by using these simple techniques that Michele and James have laid out, we can all create a better world. Spread the joy!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book to be too redundant and new-age for my taste.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free from goodreads. It was an excellent read. It can help families grow stronger and help families learn joy.